Lessons learned so far: 2024-2025

[Anonymous]

Any school after t50 or t75 that is still charging more than $60k in Tuition is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even when schools don't track 'demonstrated interest', they still seem to look for it in supplemental essays. Make sure that supplementals convey deep knowledge of the school. Based on our experience, I think that matters more than schools are wont to convey.

How does one show deep knowledge of the school without turning the supplemental into a Mad Libs-style laundry list (classes, professors, activities)? I feel like the supplemental essay looks formulaic. Can someone post GREAT supplemental essays (why major, why us)?

thank you!

I don't feel comfortable posting my DC's essays but I hope this description helps. Tie high school EC's to specific ones at the college, the clubs/groups all have unique names, often times there are several in a category, which one would the student pick and why? Same thing for why major essay, start with something meaningful in high school learning, a novel that struck a cord, an idea that made them want to learn more, the moment when the spark lit in math etc and then pick a particular class in the course catalog that would enable deeper exploration. Doing this for each college isn't easy or formulaic because sometimes the research into the school actually turns up information on why some schools actually aren't a fit. Also helps to picture what a day in a particular college would be like, stand out classes, clubs, look at the events calendar for speakers, performances, games, annual traditions. Done well it reads like a love letter to a college.

When in doubt about how to write a “why us” essay, go visit the college in person. My DS found it far easier to write that essay about a school he visited for half a day vs the schools he didn’t visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even when schools don't track 'demonstrated interest', they still seem to look for it in supplemental essays. Make sure that supplementals convey deep knowledge of the school. Based on our experience, I think that matters more than schools are wont to convey.

How does one show deep knowledge of the school without turning the supplemental into a Mad Libs-style laundry list (classes, professors, activities)? I feel like the supplemental essay looks formulaic. Can someone post GREAT supplemental essays (why major, why us)?

thank you!

Ours wrote all of their supplementals in a narrative style-similar to how you answer the common app prompt. Got into all their colleges including Princeton. Potentially just luck of the draw, though.

Yes, everyone does this....with a story/hook, you mean? Did your kid not mention any professors, EC, or anything unique to Princeton in the supplementals?

Not a single one. They just talked about aligned values, how they plan to contribute to the world in the future, and tied it into their broader purpose. It made the applications a lot more cohesive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lessons:
Kumon/enrichment/culture/language immersion will not guarantee that your kid will get into a top college. I know plenty of kids who did one or all and are going to schools not considered to be top.

+100

All of this plus include Russian Math, Violin, Eagle Scout and 1500+ SAT. It's all just ... so what. DC is going to a basic state school after a sea of rejections.

And mine did none and is going to a top 10 school.

Crazy. Same for mine. Did none of this crazy stuff.
Just did what they loved and wrote about it. No extra math and science. No music.

no tutors at all through high school?? Because you can equate Kumon and Russian math with having a private math tutor once or twice a week. The majority of kids in upper level math classes either had a tutor or participated of these companies programs.

It's uncommon to have a tutor, especially if you and DH/DW have higher education.

[Anonymous]

Highest level math. No tutors, no paid classes ever. The math teachers at MCPS schools have been excellent.

[Anonymous]

It is so funny when the admissions counselors try to create FOMO: your essay should be so specific to the college, that even a single sentence should not be applicable to any other college; convey deep knowledge of the school; mention courses/research/labs specific to the school, etc.

We then see everyone write essays about that specific class, that specific professor and other arcane stuff and why they are so interesting for you.

The AO's know you are applying to multiple T10's if you are applying to one. All the above shows is that you dug up that information. Boring!

The admissions counselors's job is to sell their services to you not get the kid into a selective university, if that happens that is fine with them, but not their objective.

[Anonymous]

ED to the college your DC really wants to and don't let fear change your mind or gut instinct. If you pick a lesser choice with more chance to get in, she'll always wonder "what if".

Our experience with DD#1 was her true top choice was an ivy but she panicked and did ED to Barnard. She got in but has not enjoyed her experience or the vibe at Columbia either where she has taken classes. She picked the most sure shot ED out of a number of schools she was interested and it worked out but she regrets it.

DD#2 was hellbent on Brown and we tried to push her to a lesser alt like Tufts and she finished the application but at the last minute switched back to Brown ... and she got in!

With DS (DC #3) we are going to let him not give into fear. He's going to shoot for the moon on ED1 and then roll the dice with RD. He learned from his sisters' examples.

[Anonymous]

Any other tips from seasoned parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visit cold weather schools in winter. One thing to think you like cold weather, another to be standing outside with n Ann Arbor waiting for bus to take you from engineering campus to the athletic center.
Similarly, visit Rice in September.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Visit cold weather schools in winter. One thing to think you like cold weather, another to be standing outside with n Ann Arbor waiting for bus to take you from engineering campus to the athletic center.
Similarly, visit Rice in September.

This

Some of these campuses are big as a small town and it's mighty cold like very very cold not a few days here and there Washington DC cold

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so funny when the admissions counselors try to create FOMO: your essay should be so specific to the college, that even a single sentence should not be applicable to any other college; convey deep knowledge of the school; mention courses/research/labs specific to the school, etc.

We then see everyone write essays about that specific class, that specific professor and other arcane stuff and why they are so interesting for you.

The AO's know you are applying to multiple T10's if you are applying to one. All the above shows is that you dug up that information. Boring!

The admissions counselors's job is to sell their services to you not get the kid into a selective university, if that happens that is fine with them, but not their objective.

It pays their bills

[Anonymous]

DS was admitted to 2 of HYPSM he applied to but did not visit and rejected from 3 of the HYPSM he did visit.

Among T20 it is pretty much 50/50 for both categories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS was admitted to 2 of HYPSM he applied to but did not visit and rejected from 3 of the HYPSM he did visit.

Among T20 it is pretty much 50/50 for both categories.

What was the background of this kid who was admitted to 2 of those ivy or +?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any other tips from seasoned parents?

- Get your kids working on RD apps now. Most of the ED we knew did not end well. Have a good plan for Dec in place (along with professional support - application review or essay help, if needed).

- get prepared to write LOCIs (new content, new info, compelling story/hook)

- apply to a few wildcard schools in RD. Sometimes things work out (they did for us twice).

GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS was admitted to 2 of HYPSM he applied to but did not visit and rejected from 3 of the HYPSM he did visit.

Among T20 it is pretty much 50/50 for both categories.

None of HYPSM track DI - so the visit "didn't matter" for admissions purposes.